While walking through the Montiggl forest, two members of the Sepp Kerschbaumer Eppan shooting fraternity made an annoying discovery: a wayside shrine and a bench had been smeared with political slogans.
Flag lieutenant Armin Gurndin and marksman Manfred Werth did not take long, however, and together they took action to remove the unsightly graffiti and restore the place to its original state.
The action was recognised in a Facebook post by the shooting fraternity , which not only thanked the two dedicated members, but also made an appeal to the general public: ‘Please show consideration for our nature and our cultural assets! Respect the work of those who are committed to preserving our beautiful environment.’
When asked, the captain of the Eppan shooting fraternity Maximilian Schmid, commented on the incident:
‘Two of our shooting fraternity went for a walk with their children and discovered that a wayside shrine had been smeared with political slogans. They immediately took care of the matter and cleaned it up. It is our concern to renovate and preserve religious objects in particular. Nevertheless, it is worrying that we as a society are always being asked to respect other cultures, while our own culture, cultural assets, traditions and customs are being damaged and defiled in this way. It is truly tragic. Other representatives of the people, who often rail against us, should take a leaf out of our book – we don’t just talk, we also act.’
What is particularly explosive about the incident is that it was not a case of random scribbling, but of politically motivated slogans. The bench was daubed with the words ‘Free Gaza’, while the provocative statement ‘Jesus was a Palestinian’ could be read on the pedestal. Such an act of vandalism is not only disrespectful of public property, but also a deliberate provocation.
The incidents once again raise the question of how to deal with politically motivated graffiti in public spaces. While freedom of expression is a valuable asset, the smearing of religious and cultural sites is a transgression that must be penalised.
The shooting association hopes that by raising awareness and taking a common stance against such acts of vandalism, such incidents can be prevented in the future. The appeal remains: Those who demand respect must deliver respect themselves.
Schmierereien im Montiggler Wald entfernt – Ein Appell an den Respekt – UnserTirol24